Willing change: revised edition

7

Hermione and Draco sat out in the garden, Hermione quietly casting a glamor charm on her neck. Draco peered at her from over his paper.

"I told you to leave if things get bad."

"Who's to say they got bad?"

He folded his paper and put it on the bench beside him, knocking a bit of snow off the bench. He looked at her, his nose turned up a bit.

"Are you aware that she can kill you?"

"She won't. She can't, and it pisses her off."

Draco raised his eyebrow as he saw a strange glint in her eyes. He lent forward a bit and lowered his voice.

"Granger, you enjoyed it didn't you?"

"What, of course not."

"Are you scared?"

"Well no…"

"Not even knowing you're about to be sitting across from her at a table?"

"No…"

Hermione turned a light shade of red at Draco's questions and he threw his head back and let out a good laugh.

"Wow, Granger! I never would have guessed you were that kind of person."

"Stop it Draco."

She huffed, scooping up a snowball and throwing it at him, hitting him in the chest. He looked stunned at first but then got up and scooped up his own. Hermione got up and backed up further into the garden. Draco threw it only for Hermione to block it with a flick of her wand. The two of them began to run through the back garden pelting each other with snowballs. Bellatrix watched with Narcissa at the kitchen window.

"See. It must be wrong if anything she would be perfect for Draco. They seem to enjoy eachothers company."

"Believe me Bella, Draco won't enjoy her company like that."

Narcissa giggled at her sister's dumbfounded expression.

"Never mind I guess not."

Bellatrix sipped her firewhiskey and watched the two running from each other. Two hours remained until dinner and Narcissa was actually cooking for once which took Bellatrix by surprise. Bella looked at her sister from the corner of her eye to see her staring and smiling.

"What is it cissy…"

"She's alot like you. Top of her class, brightest witch of her age. You could just try to get to know her Bella."

Bellatrix looked back out the window in time to see Hermione tackle Draco to the ground before running off again. He stumbled grabbing a huge armful of snow and ran after her.

"She is a pretty little thing isn't she Cissy…. No.. no. Even if I did… I can't protect her and myself from Tom. He will go after her family. My family. Everyone."
"It sounds like you just need help."
"Who?"
"Well for starters we have a hulking little cousin that I think would make a good body guard."
"No. I've been around Daedric enough to tell you that she would rip her head off. I need to find someone."

Narcissa smiled while stirring a pot of vegetables.

"Does that mean you'll try?"

"She's Potter's friend, she will get in my way when the Dark Lord lets me go on missions again. Especially now that she knows I can't hurt her."

"Do you care if she does. Each mission has an objective. Potter is to stay alive until the Dark Lord chooses to kill him himself.  I really see no reason she can't protect her friends without missing your objective."